[Re]Verse Pitch Competition

An Event Series in Austin, Texas for Social Entrepreneurs Where We Pitch To You

February -April 2019

Entrepreneurs are used to pitching their business idea to investors, partners, and anyone they might share an elevator ride with. In this competition, the tables turn.

The [Re]Verse Pitch Competition helps turn valuable raw materials that are currently leaving local businesses, non-profits, and institutions as waste into the raw materials for new or expanding social enterprises.

Do you have a waste stream with unrealized potential? Become a Material Supplier, and [Re]Verse Pitch will connect you with entrepreneurs who work with mentors & advisors to develop the best business ideas that repurpose your material. The best ideas receive cash and in-kind support to get started.

Are you…

A business owner with unwanted scrap, surplus or byproduct materials currently going to waste?

An entrepreneur interested in starting a business that has a positive social impact? A non-profit professional intrapraneur interested in a creative way to diversify your revenue and/or offering direct job training to their clients?

An experienced creative, technical or business professional interested in mentoring others?

A service provider that works with start-ups or small businesses?

Get in touch!

I AM A(N)...

[Re]Verse Material Suppliers will pitch waste and by-product materials available in Austin that could be repurposed by a new or existing local business.

Step 1- Ideation

Competitors formulate business ideas with their project team members. (Week 1)

Ideation Workshop

Competitors have the opportunity to attend a free workshop from the Small Business Program on the ideation process to learn how to more quickly turn their ideas into revenue generating businesses. Based on the lean start-up method, this course will offer tools, techniques and examples that will benefit entrepreneurs trying to move beyond the idea stage.

Teams will have access to their primary mentor and a group of advisors including business coaches, designers, materials engineers, and creatives to further refine their business idea. (Weeks 2-5)

Group Mentoring Session

The [Re]verse Pitch Group Mentoring Session will help [Re]verse Pitch competitors prepare for their in-person pitch presentations. Competitors will work with mentors in a facilitated group discussion. They should leave the session more confident in how they will articulate their value propositions, customer segments and social impact.

Step 4 - Finalists Selected

Competitors will submit a detailed idea to the judging panel, who will select the pitch competition finalists. (Week 6)

April 2019- Final Selections

At the Final Pitch event, finalists will present their business idea at the final pitch event and a panel of judges will award the Innovation Prizes.

INSPIRATION

For-profit and non-profit enterprises across the country are demonstrating the value can be created from waste. Get inspired by these local, national, and global reuse and remanufacturing enterprises:

Pentatonic: Smartphone glass, plastic bottles, and more into furniture